140724 citynews

Tree shame: starving the urban forest

CEDRIC BRYANT

Time to grasp prison needles

MICHAEL MOORE

Omar’s kick in the vernaculars

JOHN GRIFFITHS

From heartbreak to hollow legs

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2 CityNews July 24-30, 2014

news / cover story

The Empire’s bad guys love doing good IN a galaxy far, far away reporter KATHRYN VUKOVLJAK meets members of the local Southern Cross Garrison of ‘Star Wars’ fanatics who walk the talk (because they can’t sit down!)...

THEY can’t sit down, move comfortably or see very much, and it can get hot under all that heavy armour, but it doesn’t stop these dedicated “Star Wars” troopers, who say they love bringing a smile to a sick child’s face.

“I love the reactions we get from kids,” says local trooper Travis Kirk.

“At the Canberra Special Children’s Christmas Party I met a blind boy who was a ‘Star Wars’ fan, and he wanted to put his hands all over the costume.

“Once on a Down Syndrome Association Buddy Walk, I was approached by a little boy who recognised my character, Commander Cody, and his name was Cody too, so it really meant a lot to him.

“He held my hand the entire day, I felt like it was a huge moment for him.

It made him so happy.”

Troopers go to gaming or charity events in costume, posing for photos, dishing out high fives and handshakes, holding props and creating a sense of “Star Wars” authenticity, says Travis.

Travis and his fellow troopers are part of the 501st Legion, a US-based organisation that regulates “Star Wars” costuming. They’re all members of the local Southern Cross Garrison (except Zachary, who’s part of the under-18s

Galactic Academy).

Travis says he generally dresses up as Commander Cody from the “Star Wars: Clone Wars” era and the cartoon series, and he made the costume himself. It’s not cheap, either; the costumes can cost anything from $1000 up to $6000 for a Boba Fett or Chewbacca.

“Something like a Death Star staff officer will cost around $500 to $600, but the more accurate it is, and the more armour required, the more it will cost,” he says.

“It comes in a basic kit, but we build it ourselves and it’s a tricky process. It’s a big commitment; it takes up a serious amount of evenings and weekends to make!”

Any wannabe trooper then has to send photos of their completed costume to the 501st for approval. No one can troop until they get the tick, and the photos are closely scrutinised, he says.

The detail has to be spot-on.

Travis says he started trooping two years ago, after a visit to a friend in Melbourne who was involved in his local garrison.

“I like that the ‘Star Wars’ characters are so recognisable. It’s perfect for the new generation of ‘Star Wars’ fans

Super Troopers… from left, Biker Scout (Matthew Wood), Sand trooper (Vincent McGann), Commander Cody (Travis Kirk), Tusken Raider/Sand People (Zachary Kirk), and Shadow Stormtrooper (Drew Ridley).

Photo by Gary Schafer and also for their parents who are revisiting their childhood,” he says.

“The idea of trooping is to promote ‘Star Wars’ with accurate costuming, but also to support charities and the community.

“It really touched me that my friend who got me into this was helping charities by trooping. A major reason I do

this is for the kids.”

The garrison has trooped at events for charities such as Make-A-Wish Australia, Miracle Babies, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Cancer Council and the Canberra Special Children’s Christmas Party, with plans to visit local hospitals in the pipeline.

But it’s not easy work. Travis says

that because the costumes are so restrictive, garrison members usually have to get ready together in the car park.

“We’re all very close now!” he says.

“You can’t be shy in the garrison.

“I can’t sit down when I’m wearing my costume, and I need a lot of help to get all the bits of armour on and off.”

Kim McIver dresses as a staff officer from the Death Star, but she started out “wrangling” for her boyfriend Matt, a Scout trooper.

“Wrangling is like being a trooper nanny,” she says. “You make sure they’re okay in there, not getting too hot. The costumes can be heavy, and the guys can’t see much, if at all.

“With all the children wanting photos, it can be busy and they often need someone to remind them to stay hydrated.

“They also get kids trying to lift up their helmets and things like that – the kids aren’t sure if they’re real or not.”

The 501st Legion all dress up as the bad guys in “Star Wars” (there is another, the Rebel Legion, who dress up as the good guys) – but Travis says being a baddie is more fun.

“We’re bad guys doing good,” he says.

To organise a charity troop, call 0423 609900, or email travis.kirk@yahoo.com

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index

Since 1993: Volume 20, Number 27

Arts & Entertainment 19-21 Canberra Confidential 14 Cinema 20 Dining 21 Garden 22 Horoscope 23 Letters 6 News 3-10 Politics 6 Puzzles 23 Socials 11-13 Sport 9

Such is our winter of discontent Cover: Southern Cross Garrison members in their “Star Wars” costumes. Photo by Gary Schafer. Story Page 3.

contacts CEO: Greg Jones, 0419 418196, greg@citynews.com.au Editor: Ian Meikle, editor@citynews.com.au Journalists: Kathryn Vukovljak, kathryn@citynews.com.au Arts editor: Helen Musa, 0400 043764, helen@citynews.com.au Senior advertising executive: Ernie Nichols, 0421 077999 Advertising sales executives: Graham Spencer, 6262 9100; Rebecca Dann, 0431 042087; Charlotte Cuttle, 6262 9100 Advertising sales co-ordinator: ad@citynews.com.au Sydney advertising sales: Ad Sales Connect, 02 9420 1777 Production manager / graphic designer: Janet Ewen Graphic designer: Paulette Leo Photographers: Gary Schafer and Andrew Finch Proof reader: Glenda Anderson Accounts manager: Bethany Freeman-Chandler accounts@citynews.com.au Distribution: Richard Watson, circulation@citynews.com.au

Well written, well read

seven days

Phone 6262 9100 Fax 6262 9111 GPO Box 2448, Civic 2601

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Ian Meikle, Level 1, 143 London Circuit, Canberra.

GLOBAL is local in this new world of ours – and the consequences are decidedly mixed as we saw this week when a Canberra mum, Liliane Derden, was among the 298 passengers and crew on that tragic Malaysian flight.

At the same time, we discovered that Aussie citizens who joined the Islamist fighting in Syria and Iraq are returning with rage in their hearts. And many, we’re told, have slipped through undetected by our security services.

Such is our winter of discontent.

PM Tony Abbott’s giant leap backwards on climate change – just as the world was getting serious about it – split the nation. And the sniping from all sides came thick and fast.

Education Minister, Christopher Pyne, for example, enlivened the chamber with this shaft at carbon price supporter and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten: “We will hang this around your neck like a rotten, stinking carcass”. Golly.

Policy differences are one thing, but the tone of political debate quite another. Alas, the verbal fusillades have changed character since Mr Abbott donned the mantle of leadership, be it climate change or stopping the boats.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, co-chair of the Federal Government’s school curriculum review, Kevin Donnelly, declares himself in favour of a return to the cane.

Maybe we should quarantine Capital Hill lest the infection spreads.

MORE than 1300 well-meaning Canberrans packed Llewellyn Hall recently to urge “a more humane and tolerant policy” towards asylum seekers and refugees. And they presented their views to Federal Parliament this week through a couple of Labor MPs. Full marks for a nice, civilised political protest. But honestly, what did they expect from a minister who keeps a boatful of Sri Lankans fleeing the murderous Rajapaksa regime in windowless cabins aboard a Customs vessel in the middle of the Indian Ocean?

SO, how come Gungahlin gets all the goodies? First it’s a terrific freewaycum-raceway, then they’re first out of the blocks for the light rail, to say nothing of the recently opened $30 million leisure centre. And this week

they were favoured with the start-up of their superfast NBN! Maybe it’s time for us southerners to get our moving boots on.

TREASURER Andrew Barr gave the RSPCA a golden handshake this week with his decision to award them the concession to raise funds at Floriade.

This is the animal protection group that gave its imprimatur to the local kangaroo “cull”. And there’s to be a Dog’s Day Out, he says, so owners can bring “their four-legged canine friends to Floriade for the first time since the introduction of fencing in 1999”. But, Andrew, in the interim Canberra has banned plastic bags, so what happens to all those little presents that Fido leaves behind?

FINANCIAL belt tightening is understandable, but why, oh, why is the National Library, one of Canberra’s

– and the nation’s – finest ornaments to scholarship, closing its stacks on weekends when Saturday is its busiest day?

If it’s just money, I’m sure researchers would be happy to pay a modest fee. It feels like we’re heading back to the dark ages.

AND just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, co-chair of the Federal Government’s school curriculum review, Kevin Donnelly, declares himself in favour of a return to the cane.

I wonder how he’d like it. robertmacklin.com

ROBERT MACKLIN

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4 CityNews July 24-30, 2014

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6 CityNews July 24-30, 2014

Time to grasp prison needles THE tragedy of the AIDS epidemic has been with us since the early 1980s when the Nobel Laureate Prof Françoise BarréSinoussi and her team at the Pasteur Institute in Paris isolated the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

In Canberra, in the lead up to the 20th World AIDS Conference being held in Melbourne, the professor paid tribute to those who died in Malaysian Flight MH17.

Some of the 298 people on board were heading to Melbourne to share their knowledge about the battle against this insidious virus.

Speaking at the National Press Club, the professor of microbiology emphasised the role that marginalisation and prejudice played in retarding the fight against HIV/AIDS. On the same platform was former Secretary of Health in the Conservative Thatcher government who added his voice to the challenge that was faced in the early 1980s because of the marginalised groups such as gay men, sex workers and injecting drug users.

The marginalisation continues. The least powerful in our community are those most at risk.

This was recognised by governments in Australia and elsewhere. Federal Health Minister Neal Blewett (Labor) and Shadow Minister Peter Baume (Liberal) had the courage to put politics aside to

This is a health and human rights issue rather than a moral issue. The issue is not just one for warders, although they are integrally involved in the well-being of prisoners, it is one for the whole community. stand up and support gay men, injecting drug users and prostitutes. The results speak for themselves. Australia still has one of the lowest rates of spread of infection in the world.

However, the challenge continues. The third speaker at the Press Club, Australian Prof Sharon Lewin, warned about complacency, revealing: “This year, again, we had the highest numbers of new infections”.

The three also discussed the parallel issue of the spread of Hepatitis C infection and the importance of tackling marginalisation, bigotry and prejudice.

There is no cure for HIV/AIDS although treatment has come a long way. There has been more success with Hepatitis C but the expense puts it out of reach of ordinary people. Prevention is still the most important approach to both infections.

The opportunity to take on the issue of increasing infection of AIDS and Hep C in Canberra remains. Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has made public that she is prepared to introduce a needle and syringe program in the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

Prisoners often fit into the marginalised groups already mentioned with the additional impact of being incarcerated. And yet the very people who are looking after these prisoners resist the introduction of the needle and syringe program.

Prison officers do not have to participate. A series of methods have been demonstrated that will allow this preventive approach without

letters

engaging the warders.

This is a health and human rights issue rather than a moral issue. The issue is not just one for warders, although they are integrally involved in the well-being of prisoners, it is one for the whole community.

Joep Lange, along with his partner and more than 100 AIDS researchers, scientists, medical practitioners and activists, died in the crash of MH17 on his way to the Melbourne AIDS Conference.

Prof Lange was a former president of the International AIDS Society who, amongst other things, worked tirelessly and was not one to shun marginalised groups. He was one of the key leaders in ensuring treatment reached the poorest people on earth and was founder of the PharmAccess Foundation.

The common factor amongst the scientists and activists was a sense of commitment and compassion for those around them, for those less fortunate than themselves. Rather than being judgemental they were compassionate, rather than letting things go on they were innovators, rather than giving up they persisted in looking for cures, in summoning the courage to speak out and to care for those not able to care for themselves.

If the same principles of persistence, courage and caring are applied in the fight against HIV and Hepatitis C in Canberra, the establishment of the needle and syringe program in the Alexander Maconochie Centre would be imminent.

Michael Moore was an independent member of the ACT Legislative Assembly (1989 to 2001) and was minister for health.

As CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, he was responsible for a report on an NSP in the Alexander Maconochie Centre in 2011.

dose of dorin

Can’t have it both ways WHILE applauding Robert Macklin on his positive comment on Katy Gallagher’s support of Ramadan (Seven Days, CN July 10), it’s a bit hypocritical of Macklin considering his overt criticism of Christianity.

I would have thought that he would welcome either ALL faiths or none at all. You can’t have it both ways, Robert.

Geoff McLaren, via email

Macklin should apologise I OBJECT to columnist Robert Macklin’s remarks on Rolf Harris (Seven Days, CN July 10).

He states: “I suspect the enthusiasm they brought to his prosecution had much to do with the Brits not being able to make the disgusting Jimmy Savile pay for his crimes”.

It was disgusting what Mr Harris did to one girl in particular, but had little to do with the Savile case.

Mr Macklin has made Harris’s crimes sound like he should have just been slapped on the wrist – this is just so totally unfair to the many girls and women who were physically and mentally abused, and especially to those who were courageous enough to come forward from the beginning.

Mr Macklin should apologise for his ill-informed and light-hearted comments about this case.

Anne Wyer via email

Ready to play my part AT the risk of sounding nationalistic, I am tired of the civil rights people objecting to almost anything restrictive that governments do.

The latest is data retention. Nobody wants to take out insurance – on their house, car, possessions – but virtually everyone does it because it’s the sensible thing to do. Yes it costs, but trying to ensure safety always does.

Nobody wants even to think of it, but some experts are saying there will be a terrorist attack in Australia. If there is, hundreds could be killed or injured, and I suggest the most silent voices in our community then would be the civil libertarians.

I am ready to play my part in helping to protect my country and its citizens while simultaneously supporting the full force of the law against those who betray that protection.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

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Omar’s swift kick in the vernaculars Wish we had a white person with us Ten empty cabs have passed us by.”

Part of the blame for that must also be laid at the door of the publisher for putting an endorsement by Welsh on the cover.

In theory, the setting is an anonymous “Town” near – from “Here Come The Dogs” the “City”.

by Omar Musa But there is this passage to really nail home the location: “They walk hand in hand past the merry-go-round, OMAR Musa’s new book is a vernacular romp past the restaurants with ironic menus and pink through the mean streets of Queanbeyan lemonade in jam jars, past the bus interchange and and Canberra that has attracted comparisons straight to the noodle house”.

The book is important just as an insight as to what to Irvine Welsh’s “Trainspotting”, in part it’s like to not fit into this city of overwhelming white because it’s full of swearing, sex, drugs, privilege. And as a white, middle-class male it can be and violence. challenging in parts and, coming from that background, I have to admit to wondering where the chicken and egg lies in some of the written situations.

Did social exclusion drive the young protagonists to be drunk, on drugs, and smashing the teeth out of the heads of people they’ve met at the pub? Or are they excluded because of that behaviour?

Canberra is written in parts as a glittering and confusing place where bad things happen.

In one case the bad thing was a humiliation in front of a girl and passersby getting our paralytic hero into a taxi home. Some would think this was a pretty good result, really.

There is a hell of a lot in this book about hip hop music, it’s interesting in parts, at times confusing.

There’s also a lot about graffiti. The process behind it, the differences between the Sydney and Melbourne schools, the different paints, the different nozzles, the planning drawings.

This almost seems sympathetic until our heroes, in the course of vandalising a site, violently assault a security guard just trying to do his job and run triumphant into the night.

On one reading of the book it would be possible to conclude the issue is not ethnicity but mental health.

The language is crazy brave, flicking between standard literary prose, Queanbeyan vernacular (“eh” written as “ay”), and outright poetry.

The verse used to describe scenes of extreme intoxication is very effective when you get used to it with the same dreamy disjointed lurching sense most of us have experienced on a big night out.

That it, for the greater part, works is a real testament to the author’s skill.

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8 CityNews July 24-30, 2014

“Here Come the Dogs” (Penguin, $29.99)

sport

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Cash call to catapult top kids

Corbell salutes trees

IN the early 1990s, I raised the prospect of the establishment of a special fund to help young athletes in Canberra achieve their goals.

The idea came after being approached to assist an athlete to go overseas for competition; his family just couldn’t afford it. We had a fundraiser and sent him overseas, but it was to be an ongoing struggle.

His mother told me that the family was committed to ensuring he was given the same opportunity as any athlete who was financially better off, even if it sent them into debt. She likened her son’s pursuit of athletic success to that of a university student studying for a degree.

I won’t identify the athlete or his family but I can say, after 25 years of fund-raising functions, there are plenty of others in the same position.

Given the rise of the next generation of Canberra’s young athletes and the city wide pride they generate, which no professionally developed marketing campaign could ever achieve, the concept of a fund is worth revisiting.

In this era of crowdfunding, I’m suggesting that the ACT government doesn’t go it alone with funding, but that the community contributes to a fund to assist young athletes.

To hear commentators tell international audiences of the emergence of Canberra athletes such as Patty Mills, Caroline Buchanan, Lauren Jackson, Nick Kyrgios, Michael Matthews and Anna Flanagan does wonders for the psyche of our city.

It also means that Canberra is on the right track in developing athletes for the world stage.

But we can do better. Why not build an Olympic-class BMX track to assist not only Buchanan and her next-generation athletes?

Imagine parents outside the ACT, keen for their children to succeed, looking at Canberra and the success of Kyrgios, Buchanan and Mills, and thinking that this might not be a bad place to live, to give their son or daughter the best opportunity.

Some though do fall through the

cracks; they can’t afford to fund their child’s sporting ambitions no matter the potential.

In this era of crowdfunding, I’m suggesting that the ACT government doesn’t go it alone with funding, but that the community contributes to a fund to assist young athletes.

People would be able to contribute what they like – it might be $50 or $500 – but it has to be affordable and doesn’t have to be in the form of sponsorship as such.

And while I’m on a roll, the fund could be administered by the government’s Sport and Recreation Directorate with funds distributed on a request basis and determined by a small panel of people

involved in sport.

It would give the community a feeling that it had helped a young athlete achieve on the world stage; a possibility that may have been missed had it not been for the fund.

It would set Canberra apart from a lot of other cities and would provide an insight into the community spirit that I have seen so many times at fundraisers and functions over the years.

CANBERRA has the nation’s highest proportion of tree cover with 56 per cent, according to a recent study of urban land cover types by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney.

Environment Minister, Simon Corbell, said urban trees played an important role in moderating microclimates within the city and provide “shade and shelter for houses and reduce the need to turn on air conditioners”.

Starving the urban forest, Page 22

Trivia for kids THE local council of the internationl charity Save the Children is hosting a fundraising trivia quiz afternoon at The Durham, Green Square, Kingston, from 2pm, on Sunday, August 17.

Passion for dance THE Latin dance community celebrates its passion for dance at the 27th Stomp, at Albert Hall on Saturday, July 26. Proceeds will assist Rotary International and Greening Australia. Organisers are hoping for a record crowd and to raise $12,000. The theme is “Mythology” and there will be fun activities including a mechanical bull competition.

Tickets from thestomp.org.

Welsh gathering THE Welsh Society of Canberra is hosting a social afternoon of singing and chat “with others who hail from Wales” or share an interest in the country and its culture at the Irish Club, Weston, 2pm-4pm, on Saturday, July 26. More information 0408 089235 or cymrycanberra@yahoo.com

TIM GAVEL

Proudly supported by

CANBERRA

Baby&Beyond Expo

From the Muddle Puddle Market team www.facebook.com/canberrababyexpo

CityNews July 24-30, 2014 9

news / children

mum in the city

From heartbreak to hollow legs...

THE other day I came across a scrap of memorabilia that took me back to one of the most stressful times of my life.

Hip hop in full swing at Club Rafiki in Kigali… “Young Africans love dancing, it’s natural for them, so we thought formal hip hop teaching might go down well,” says Mandy Wheen.

Hip hop = happiness

By Kathryn Vukovljak

THEY may seem unlikely hip hop advocates, but Rwandan enthusiasts David and Mandy Wheen have been instrumental in bringing urban dance classes to Kigali, the country’s capital.

“Unemployment is high, as is teenage pregnancy, drugs and instances of HIV,” says David. “A high percentage of the population are youth – 44 per cent – and there isn’t much for them to do.”

David, a former senior Immigration officer, and Mandy, a retired treasury official, have visited every year since 2007, when David worked there for a UN agency to help the Rwandan recovery. After a few visits they knew they wanted to do more for the country’s youth.

“Young Africans love dancing, it’s natural for them, so we thought formal hip hop teaching might go down well,” she said.

Inspired by the Fresh Funk dance class, run by Caroline Wall at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Mandy and David turned their attention to finding a place in Kigali to run free classes.

“We got in touch with Club Rafiki, a youth club which already had hairdressing classes, childcare, a gym, games and

David and Mandy Wheen. Photo Gary Schafer a library. They were keen, they found two young blokes to teach and the classes took off,” says David.

Two years on and it’s been a huge success, he says, thanks to support from the Indigo Foundation, an independent community development organisation based in Australia.

“There was informal hip hop dancing going on already, but very few people could afford the hip hop discos that were held,” says David. “These classes are free and there’s a waiting list as long as your arm.

“There’s a sense of achievement and it’s good for their self-esteem.”

The club also provides a family planning and HIV education program, which has formed part of the couple’s most recent area of fundraising.

“One of the club members died from an HIV-related illness, and the young teachers had an idea to take dance demonstrations around the country, and to tie it in with HIV education for people in remote areas”. “Our experience in immigration and HR means we can bring those skills to bear in the Rwandan context,” says David.

“It’s also a delight to work together after all these years – we have four children and with our busy lives and careers over the years, we often didn’t see much of each other!”

Mandy says the poverty in Rwanda is hard to understand but despite it, the people seem happy and proud.

“We see improvements every time we go there, in attitudes as well as in physical development,” she says.

“For example, there are great opportunities for girls. Everyone believes kids should be at school. There is a strong sense of national purpose.

“But the perpetrators and survivors of the 100-day genocide in 1994 have to live together now, and the people there are physically and emotionally scarred for life.

“All these children who lost parents or older siblings in the genocide – they need something. It’s a deeper thing. It’s not just about dance classes.”

To donate, visit indigofoundation.org

It’s a small, dog-eared notebook recording the times and amounts of my son’s daily, indeed hourly intake of milk when he was a newborn infant.

The detail is meticulous as the notebook records every feed for more than six months: 10 mls at 2.15 am on November 3, 15 ml at 11.50 pm on December 24, etcetera.

It was a pretty grim time.

Breastfeeding just didn’t work for us and being harangued by hospital midwives in the early hours of the morning for “failing” really didn’t help.

My boy wouldn’t sleep, would only drink pitiful amounts of formula from bottles and wouldn’t put on weight.

It was the beginning of five years of sustained sleep deprivation and my son’s status of a “fussy eater”. The effort to get him to drink from his bottle was eventually successful, but he never seemed to have much of an appetite.

As a toddler he seemed to live solely on milk, Vegemite and spaghetti. Meal times often ended with my dumping his dinner pretty much untouched into the bin and I was just distraught about it all, convinced he wasn’t going to grow, that he wouldn’t be healthy or his brain wouldn’t develop properly.

We consulted doctors and dieticians and spent a fortune on books by “experts”, but nothing seemed to improve. I would watch other mums with plump babies or well-fed toddlers with guilt and envy because my little guy seemed destined to stunt his own growth.

However, years later I have the opposite problem. Now an intensely energetic and rapidly growing “tween”, I just can’t fill him up. I often

wonder if he really does have hollow legs and how a normal-sized child can consume so much food so quickly.

A full fridge seems to disappear in a blink of an eye.

Our shopping trolley looks like we are feeding the entire Raiders team.

He’s omnivorous with an insatiable appetite. “I’m hungry” and “what’s for dinner” are his constant refrain. I really don’t know where he puts it, but he’s growing like topsy and a full program of acrobatics and figure skating sees him just packing on muscle.

I’m not quite sure when things changed – sometime when he was about seven or eight and his physical activity picked up sharply. Suddenly he was just ravenous.

The lesson that I draw from this is that one of the problems with parenting is that while we so often want instant perfection for our child, the reality is that things rarely follow the path laid out in all those glossy parenting books anxious new mothers and fathers buy.

If there are problems – seek out good advice. But don’t be too stressed if things don’t follow a smooth path.

Every child is different and I never imagined, as I carefully recorded every reluctantly drunk drop of milk, that I’d now have the strapping, young man who is again raiding the fridge as I write.

SONYA FLADUN

Gentle and experienced care City Walk Centre, Civic

02 6247 8400

www.moderndentistry.com.au 10 CityNews July 24-30, 2014

Same-day appointments 7am to 7pm by arrangement Saturday opening

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scene / around canberra

invite us / scene@citynews.com.au

Social event of the week / Bangarra opening night, Canberra Theatre WHAT a triumph Bangarra’s opening night of “Patyegarang” was; one of its best and there have been plenty of “bests”.

LYN MILLS

Canberra audiences love Bangarra and happily huddled together in this full house of devotees, who braved the night’s freeze.

Distinguished guests on their first official visit to the Canberra Theatre were the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove hosted by John Hindmarsh, chair of the Cultural Facilities Corporation, and Rosanna Hindmarsh with Larissa Behrendt,chair of the Bangarra board.

There was a little “oops” moment when a couple happily sitting in the VIP seats waiting for the Ten Tenors had to be quietly told that they were in the wrong seats – and the wrong theatre!

I’m sure the Cosgroves would have happily shared had the couple decided to stay.

Alice and Trish Brown

Tristan Thomas and Emily Forato

Nick Janchno and Jess Hayes

Brett Cashan and Lena Saboisky

Leonard Mickelo and Antoinette House

Jessa Rogers, Anne Martin and John Paul Janke

Larissa Behrendt, Lady Cosgrove and Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove with Rosanna and John Hindmarsh

Yolande Brown, Jasmin Sheppard and Kaine Sultan-Babij

Thomas Greenfield, Nicola Sabatino, Stephen Page, Waangenga Blanco and Jasmyne Mehrton-Johnson

At Evo we understand each individual has different genes, metabolism and life challenges and this is precisely the reason every membership and training program needs to be tailored. The carefully planned Evo program combined with your commitment is the formula for great results.

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Reach your goals in 2014

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• Small Physio Pilates Classes (no more than 10) • Individual - Independent • Claimable on your private health fund • It’s fun!

• Also available: Teenager Core Stability Class

p 6262 9664 23 Petrie Plaza, Canberra CBD w higherfunction.com.au

scene / around canberra At the Gungahlin Community Council breakfast

Jo Powell and Beth Peters

Steve Doszpot MLA, Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson MLA and Giulia Jones MLA

Marcus Allesch and Ven Kuma

Physiotherapy • Pilates • Psychology

BREAKFAST Be the first to know what’s happening in Canberra’s office markets and in key office markets around the nation, including vacancies, rentals and supplies.

This highly anticipated event will reveal the latest results from the Property Council’s July 2014 Office Market Report.

MODERATOR Andrew Balzanelli Managing Director ACTJLL

7.15am – 9.00am Thursday, August 7 Hotel Realm – Barton

SPEAKERS Steve Flannery Valuations Director Knight Frank

Principal Sponsor:

Brett White and Joe Cortese

Kevin Cox and Marianne Chaston

Martin Fisk and Lynne Harwood

Kevin Stanley Principal Deep End Services

PANEL Vanessa Bedelis National Leasing Manager – Commercial ISPT Barry Morris Director Morris Property Group

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Member: $80 Non-member: $125 To register go to www.propertyoz.com.au/act or phone 62486902

Pierre Huetter, Opposition Leader and guest speaker Jeremy Hanson, Catherine Boden and Andrew Blyth

Suzanne Moulis, Josephine Donges and Stephen Trump

7/07/2014 3:35 pm

4 Units Now $450,000 each! August only

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In Retirement: • A new enjoyable lifestyle is important • Long and frequent holidays are important • A new home is important, because your home is now unsuitable • Support is important • Selling your present home releases cash to enjoy, cruising for example • Security is important when you go away on holidays.

• Low price is important.

12 CityNews July 24-30, 2014

The Pines is Everything and More Enjoy your Money Today And leave a valuable asset for your children as well.

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scene / around canberra

Photos by Andrew Finch

At the 2014 AHA ACT Hospitality Awards, Civic

Courtney Reeve, Jeremy Magan and Stephanie Booksmythe

Maurits De Graeff, Anita Parker, Marricel Watt and Andre Vanderkouw

Danny Gaul, Amanda Beattie and Mick Vanzetti

Phil Clark and Rosemare Doeberl

Vince Azzopardi, Leana Osenieks, Jason Travers, Shana Skinner and Carol Scott

Justin and Kerrie Bisa with Richard Hoe

David Grigg and Sean McGrath

Chester Mok, Nikko Acena and Aaron Desa

Karen Dempster and Melinda Kibukamusoke

Natasha Roberts, Carly Devine and Emily Vrbenski

Lizzie Cleaves, Tracy Atherton, Ben Collett, Kristy Ryan and Kayla Scott

Ahyeon Yun, Manoj Badoni, Kaarin Dynon and Chloe Wursten

Tarn Morrow, Nicole Turnbull, Brad Watts, Sinead Szabo

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Canberra Confidential

Justine Scott in front of her work “He Put Coral in my Hand”. Photo by Farhana Islam

Dressing-gown dauber PUBLIC servant Justine Scott is a passionate painter who daubs, it seems, day and night.

“I paint almost every day; before work, after work and on weekends,” she says.

She lives in a small apartment in Turner and paints on her balcony.

“If you’re lucky, you might see me painting outside, wearing my dressing gown, at 7am!”

Three years ago she decided to “get practical” and turn her passion into saleable art, an objective that will culminate in her first solo exhibition, “Ile Mare”, at the Kaori Gallery, corner of London Circuit and Hobart Place, Civic, August 2-30.

The exhibition features paintings that explore the landscape around the islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Scary mums

Hmmms

BOUND by a love of books, vampires and the paranormal, Canberra writer Jen Shepherd and her best friend Cairnsbased former Canberran, Sarah Dawson, have penned an “urban fantasy” titled “Enlightened”.

Mums by day and authors by night, they have self-published what they say will be a series of books in the footsteps of “Twilight” and “Vampire Academy”.

“We wanted a more adult theme than some of the books we had read which were more geared for teenagers,” Sarah said.

“Sarah’s mum was shocked and read it under duress, but then totally devoured it,” Jen said. “It was a little bit awkward at some moments because there are a few racy bits in the story.”

“Enlightened” will be launched in Canberra on Saturday, August 2 and is available online at sjjensar.com and as an eBook from Amazon, Kobo, Sony Reader Store, iBookstore and Kindle.

AT the height of the school holidays, the loss-making, government-owned Civic merry-go-round was dutifully shuttered, as per its “non-daylight saving” hours, each weekday at 2.30pm.

You have to wonder.

14 CityNews July 24-30, 2014

HAVEN’T the police got better things to Tango Whisky Echo Echo Tango?

BLESS ‘em… This is a team of painters from competing local companies who donated nearly 100 hours of manpower, plus all the paint, to give Kese House in Kaleen – a respite care home for children aged 5 to 12 – a complete makeover.

Managed by Disability ACT and servicing 200 local families, Kese House provides a supported environment for children who

have a diagnosed intellectual disability.

Here’s the honour list: Fusion, Homeworks, Rick Maier Paint Plus, Pride Painting & Decorating, Alan Harding, Dino Forner, ASF Painting & Decorating, Cheerza, PW Painting, Fluid Painting, GMK Painting, Guevara Painting, Everlasting Impressions, Wayne’s Painting, Canberra Painting Services and Murphy Bros’ Painting Services.

Member for Canbe-r-r-r-a?

Sarah Dawson, left, and Jen Shepherd.

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6 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick Phone: 6280 4464 www.dreamdesignfurniture.com.au

Know something? / confidential@citynews.com.au

ONE of CC’s treasured southside snouts called by to drop off the member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann’s latest fridge magnet for consti tuents extolling an upcoming series of community forums during which she wants to “hear about the impact of the Abbott Government’s Budget on you.”

But the Federal MP for the seat of Canberra appears to have trouble spelling Canberra,

adding an extra “r” in the main heading.

If it’s any consolation, Gai, “CityNews” once managed to spell its political columnist Michael Moore’s surname as Mooore – on the front cover.

ANNOUNCING its inaugural conference in Melbourne next month: “As the new peak body for Australia’s off-site construction industry, prefabAUS is set to assemble industry experts from around the world…”

AND whatever rocks your boat…

“At The Front Gallery and Cafe, art openings turn into all night parties,” says the Lyneham venue. “Show up for an album launch and you’re liable to end up doused in body paint and fed pancakes.” Hmmm, indeed.

“STRESS levels in Australia remain high, with 91 per cent of respondents indicating they are experiencing stress,” says the Lifeline 2014 Stress Poll.

The counselling service is encouraging everyone to “stress down” on Friday, July 25, national Stress Down Day, but presumably not by drinking alcohol.

handmade

advertising feature

Unique delights of creative arts and crafts Canberra is full of clever crafty types who put passion and personality into their unique creations. From stylish digital artwork and delicious hand-poured candles to hands-on art classes and delicate glass jewellery, here’s a handy look at all things local and handmade.

Soothe the soul with scent

Mick’s urban landscapes

FROM invigorating orange blossom to indulgent milk and honey, scented candles can create the perfect ambiance for any occasion, says Nura Hatami, designer and owner of House of Nunu.

Nura, known by her friends as Nunu, makes luxurious handmade soy candles, made with pure ingredients and scented with essential and aroma oils using perfumery techniques, she says.

“These create extraordinary fragrances that evoke a unique mood and soothe the mind, body and soul,” she says.

Nura says her love of candles started at a young age as she observed her mother burn candles at home, adding ambiance through light and scent.

From the choice of fragrance to the packaging, Nura says House of Nunu was created in collaboration with creative friends and experts in the field who share a passion for design, exceptional quality and a holistic approach.

“Combined with a unique soy wax blend and cotton wicks, House of Nunu’s handpoured candles ensure a longer lasting, ultra clean, non-toxic burn,” she says.

WHETHER it’s a group of cockatoos on a nature strip or a magpie in autumn leaves, digital artist Mick Ashley, of Leafy Sea Dragon Artwork, loves to take note of uniquely Canberran scenes.

“It’s the ordinary things that we tend to ignore, but they are very distinct to Canberra’s urban landscape,” he says.

Mick is working on a new series of “planets”, where areas of Canberra are depicted as a planet with their features in orbit, such as his recent Planet Floriade piece.

“I’ll have my first stall at Floriade this year, which will be an opportunity to bring my art to a new audience,” he says.

Mick also currently has a small exhibition called “Urban Landscapes” in Wilbur’s at Hackett shops for five weeks.

Email leafyseadragonartwork@gmail.com, visit mickashley.com.au or facebook.com/ LeafySeaDragonArtwork

Email enquiries@houseofnunu.com.au or visit houseofnunu.com.au

All handmade, all local FOR Australian handcrafted designs that are stylish, unique and exceptional quality, you can’t go past Shop Handmade, says owner Julie Nichols.

It’s also the ideal platform for designers, she says.

“The Handmade Market and Shop allows designers to showcase their work while avoiding the cost and the hassle of having their own shop, or having to be at a market every weekend,” says Julie.

“Our niche is that it’s all handmade and it’s all made in Australia.”

The first Handmade market was in 2008, and it’s grown from 35 stalls to showcasing more than 170 designers. Shop Handmade was born out of the demand, Julie says.

Luxurious and soft

“Our shop is located on City Walk, at the casino end,” she says.

Shop Handmade has had recent wins in the Telstra Business Awards, the Canberra BusinessPoint Awards and the Canberra and Capital Region Tourism Awards.

Julie says they have a passion for supporting independent, small and creative businesses and connecting them to their target customers.

“We’ve created a market and a shopfront that maintain a grass-roots level and also a high standard in quality, workmanship and sensational customer service,” she says.

Shop Handmade, City Walk, Civic.

Call 6247 8676.

Classic fragranced candles, $34.95; variety box of three mini candles, $39.95

ALPACA fleece is amazingly soft, warm and lightweight, says Val Johanson, of Elite Australian Alpaca.

Val says Elite uses its fleeces to make hand-knitted garments, including soft warm baby goods, luxurious fashion scarves, beanies, hats, gloves and other accessories for guys and girls.

“Our farm is based at Williamsdale, just south of Canberra, where we breed champion alpacas,” she says.

“We sell our commercially spun-fleece and yarn, and also have a team of experienced home knitters making luxurious unique garments for sale.

“The fleece is a lustrous lightweight fibre, with a unique silky feel, and it has the best thermal qualities of any of the natural fibres.

“It’s not prickly and has no lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic and ideal for allergy sufferers to wear next to the skin.”

Val says the garments are all natural, and contain no dyes or chemicals – perfect for babies, those with allergies to wool or synthetics, and for the discerning shopper.”

Call 0412 887857, email sales@australianalpaca.net or visit eliteaustralianalpaca.com

the market @ bungendore Unique, handmade glass beads and jewellery

Bungendore War Memorial Hall 3rd Sunday of each month • 9:00am to 3:00pm

You can see Carolyn’s work at: Strathnairn Arts, Stockdill Drive Holt and on Jewellery Sundays at The Old Bus Depot Markets, Kingston carolyn.brennan@bigpond.com

A warm and friendly country market with a great atmosphere and interesting products • A wide range of quality goods • Focusing on local art, craft and produce • Refreshments available • New stalls arriving each month • Proud supporter of the War Memorial Hall Restoration Fund

New stallholders always welcome

www.themarketatbungendore.com CityNews July 24-30, 2014 15

handmade Blue for blueberries At The Little Flame Co. we pride ourselves on handmade high quality scented soy candles and products.

We are located and produce our products in Goulburn, NSW. Postage and delivery are available.

BLUEBERRIES are a source of antioxidants and Blue Berrylicious, a north-coast gourmet food business, has created a range of blueberry-based goodies that are decadent, delicious and packed full of goodness, says owner Gwenda Ford.

“We wanted to find a good use for all our blueberries, and we came up with the idea of making a vinaigrette, and that’s where it all started,” she says. “I also wanted to have a little business to help me look after my three horses.

“We only use local blueberries and raspberries, cooked in small batches with no preservative or colours added,” says Gwenda.

Blue Berrylicious has been in business for more than six years, and donates 10 per cent of its profits to women’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Email info@blueberrylicious.com.au or visit blueberrylicious.com.au

For further information regarding our products and services please contact Cheyenne on 0419 164 265 or thelittleflameco@hotmail.com Shop online at etsy.com/shop/thelittleflameco

Blue Berrylicious is a Mid North Coast gourmet food business specialising in all things berry.

Decadent and delicious, Blue Berrylicious products are packed full of goodness.

Our products include: • blueberry jam • raspberry & vanilla jam • decadent dessert drizzling sauce • blueberry pancake mix • blueberry relish • blueberry vinaigrette • blueberry bourbon BBQ sauce • blueberry basil marinade Available online at www.blueberrylicious.com.au or at the Handmade Canberra shopfront.

Blueberries like you have never tasted before

SHOP local SHOP handmade SHOP 6 days a week City Walk Blvd, Canberra City (Casino End) Phone 02 6247 8676 www.handmadecanberra.com.au facebook.com/handmadecanberra 16 CityNews July 24-30, 2014

For the love of glass

Little handmade flames MAKING her own candles started out as an idea for homemade Christmas presents for friends and family, but has grown into a passion for Cheyenne Heath, owner of The Little Flame Co. Her Etsy shop sells her hand-poured soy candles, tea lights, reed diffusers, melts for oil burners and candles in travel tins.

“My mum and I had the idea initially as a way to make our own presents rather than buying them, then we decided to make them for ourselves. The next logical step was to sell them online and at markets,” says Cheyenne.

Cheyenne says the candles are available in two styles of jars, timber tops and classic, which is a more curved, feminine style.

She also makes a range of bath teas under the name Suds & Co, which are a mix of herbs and salts for encouraging relaxation at bath time.

Email thelittleflameco@hotmail.com or visit etsy.com/shop/thelittleflameco

CAROLYN Brennan loves glass, and makes glass beads using lampworking techniques in her home studio.

“Each bead is unique so every finished piece is also unique,” she says. “I don’t make the same piece twice.”

Carolyn makes necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets using glass sourced from Italy, Germany, and the US. She says some glass is sourced from China, where it is manufactured under licence to Italian glass makers.

Having made beads for five years,

Carolyn says it’s definitely more of a hobby for her but that she loves the process.

“When the glass is molten, you can do almost anything with it,” she says. “You can really play with it and put designs into it.

“Recent innovations in the production of new types of glass mean I can revel in a wide variety of rich colours, including colours with a high silver content.”

Email carolyn.brennan@bigpond.com

advertising feature

Elite Australian Alpaca

Preserving hand-crafted techniques

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair FEEL gorgeous and have fun wearing beautiful handmade hair accessories, says Rochelle Austin, owner of Summerblossom Handmade.

Rochelle’s headpieces are feminine and bohemian, she says.

“I started out making accessories for friends, and then decided to launch the business full time in November 2010, when I quit my day job as a graphic designer,” she says.

Now Rochelle makes bridal and bridesmaid headpieces, as well as her fashion line.

“We make the bridal range petal by petal in our studio, and there’s a trend at the moment

for really fresh-looking flower crowns, with greenery and sprigs of lavender,” she says.

“We can make complementary pieces for bridesmaids and flower girls.”

Rochelle’s designs include intricate silk flowers, delicate gold chains and subtly sparkly headpieces.

“A popular look at the moment is our hippystyle string wrap, which looks great with long, loose and wavy hair, it’s a very 70s-style look.”

TEACHING freehand drawing and painting is the focus of Greg Devenny-Mackay, of Lavender Art Studios.

Greg founded Lavender Art Studios in 1999, with a vision of helping to pass on these techniques to his students.

“This vision has helped the natural creative development of hundreds of art students within areas of their artistic, personal and career endeavours,” he says.

“The art classes, which suit beginners through to the more confident artist, are very often nurtured by the elegant and age-old music of the harp which is played live for the students by Elita Mackay.

“Combining a natural blend of all things handmade, to the delivery of the art classes, workshops and creative programs, ensures that those who attend the Lavender Art Studios art classes for young people and adults enjoy a completely pleasurable artistic and naturally cultured experience.”

Lavender Art Studios, based above the Hansel and Gretel coffee shop in Townshend Street, Phillip, also conducts specialised art workshops for educational, business and corporate groups and offers a high-quality discounted framing, quality discount art materials and a fine art reproduction print service, Greg says.

Hand knitted | All Natural | Hypoallergenic Stunning garments hand knitted with the fleece from our champion breed alpacas.

Our garments are ALL NATURAL - they contain no dyes or other chemicals, making them perfect for babies, those with allergy to wool or synthetics, and for the discerning shopper.

• Soft, warm baby goods • Luxurious fashion scarves • Beanies, hats, gloves and other accessories for guys and gals!

Available at the Canberra Handmade Shopfront sales@australianalpaca.net www.eliteaustralianalpaca.com

Call 6292 6339 or visit lavenderartstudios.com.au

Call 8084 2090 or visit summerblossom.com.au

Arts market with a mission BUNGENDORE comes alive on the third Sunday of each month, when the markets are held at the War Memorial Hall on Molonglo Street, and Canberrans can ride out in style on a historic steam train from Kingston.

The markets are organised by the pARTnership, a small group of Bungendore artists, according to spokesperson Lyn Randall.

Visitors can see a range of local arts and crafts all in the one place, as well as fresh produce, musical instruments, toys, rugs, second-hand goods and various edible delights “The market @ bungendore is a not-forprofit venture,” explains Lyn. “Entry is by gold coin donation and this money is donated to the Bungendore War Memorial Hall Restoration Fund to assist with

the maintenance of the hall.”

The market@bungendore, War Memorial Hall, Molonglo Street, Bungendore. More information at themarketatbungendore.com

Elita Mackay Playing the Harp at Lavender Art Studios was executed in pastel by Jo Royd; one of the adult art students at Lavender Art Studios.

House of Nunu is a range of handmade soy candles by local designer, Nura Hatami

Leafy Sea Dragon Artwork focuses mostly on the people, urban landscapes and objects that are uniquely and identifiably Canberran.

His distinct style called ‘Digital Lino’ is quirky, unique and vibrant, available in a range of products.

AVAILABLE AT Home Bed and Bath Inside Out Itrip Iskip Live Well Spa and Wellness Centre Pepe’s Paperie Yarralumla Post and Flowers

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facebook.com/LeafySeaDragonArtwork www.mickashley.com.au CityNews July 24-30, 2014 17

arts & entertainment Only the good get through

Gulpilil goes up ‘Country’

From the other side

By Helen Musa

THE scene is Cowra, NSW on August 5, 1944 and 545 Japanese prisoners of war at a camp are planning the largest escape attempt in Australia’s history.

By Helen Musa

“STRONGER than Fiction” is the catchy name chosen last year by Simon Weaving for the documentary film festival, now heading into its second year at Palace Electric.

It’s not just clever copywriting. Weaving is adamant that the documentary form is every bit as exciting and as strange as fiction, telling “CityNews”, “We only let really good stories through the gates… I am an absolutely passionate believer in the power of narrative.”

Take the horrifying movie, “The Kill Team”, a story about a renegade platoon of US soldiers who set up innocent Afghan civilians to torture and kill just because they were bored. Ironically, because of the odd military justice system, it’s Private Adam Winfield, the young soldier who blows the whistle, who ends up in jail. “It’s a mind-boggling, eye-popping story,” Weaving says.

And there’s “The Crash Reel”, made up of verité footage showing the rivalry between friend/snowboarders Shaun White and Kevin Pearce in the lead up to the Vancouver Winter Olympics, where they performed increasingly dangerous tricks until Pearce crashed and had to watch as White won gold.

Dougal Macdonald

Kevin Pearce in action before his crash in “The Crash Reel”.

If that’s not provocative enough, Australia’s eminent documentary maker Bob Connolly will be on hand to open the festival, which begins with “La Cour de Babel” (School of Babel), Julie Bertuccelli’s feature about young immigrant children in France. That’ll be followed by a ritzy party at Hotel Hotel.

This year, indigenous filmmakers are to the fore with “Buckskin”, the debut film

by Dylan McDonald and “Big Name, No Blanket”, about Warumpi band front man George Rrurrambu, directed by “Redfern Now” writer, Steven McGregor.

Then there’s the world premiere of “Message from Mungo”, a new feature-length

documentary from Canberra’s Andrew Pike and Ann McGrath that explores the interface between scientists and the indigenous communities around Lake Mungo.

Weaving and co-director Deborah Kingsland, who’d like to transform the event into a national touring documentary film festival, say they hope the festival will “provoke thought, inspire discussion and embrace the richness and diversity of different cultures within our city”. And that’s bound to be much stronger than fiction.

“Stronger than Fiction”, Palace Electric Cinemas, July 31-August 3, Q&A sessions follow each screening. Bookings to palacecinemas.com.au

It’s 70 years since the Cowra Breakout, where 1000 prisoners tried to break out and 231 young Japanese and four Australians died in the attempt.

Then Prime Minister John Curtin called it “a suicidal disregard of life”, while the honchos, the heads of the PoW blocks, advised the men: “Don’t humiliate yourself by being captured alive”.

Thomas Keneally’s recent fictionalised account of the breakout, “Shame and the Captives”, puts the Australian point of view and now a play coming to Australia from Japan will show, for the first time, the Japanese perspective.

Set in a reconstructed barrack shed, Yoji Sakate’s play, “Honchos Meeting in Cowra”, portrays the collaboration between two film-school teachers (Jane Phegan and Mari Nakayama) as they teach their students to “meet their characters”, the soldiers in Camp B – young Japanese men grappling

with ideas of honour, shame and personal integrity.

Australian director and Japanese theatre expert, Aubrey Mellor, tells “CityNews” that “the truth did not come out for many years, until some of the prisoners began to talk of it without shame… Sakate says that what happened there is still happening in Japan today.”

“Honcho” is staged by Tokyo’s Rinkogun (“Phosphorescence”) Theatre Company for its 30th anniversary and is playing in Tokyo, Kobe and Nagoya before Australia, where it will be performed in Cowra at the Breakout commemorations, in Canberra at The Street Theatre and at NIDA in Sydney.

Writer and director Sakate has also engaged four guest actors from Australia – Matthew Crosby, Baylea Davis, Sarah Jane Kelly and Sonny Vrebac – all NIDA alumni and Australian-Japan Foundation scholars.

Veteran actor Crosby says: “Rehearsals are flying… Sakate San is a great artist – really enjoying the opportunity to work with him…

Wow. It is powerful.”

The play is spoken in Japanese and English, with English subtitles.

“Honchos Meeting in Cowra”, The Street Theatre, August 6-7, bookings to 6247 1223 or thestreet.org.au

Actors Matt Crosby and Jane Phegan with writer-director Yoji Sakate.

Photo by Michihiro Furumoto

QL2 DANCE PRESENTS PASSIONATE CONTEMPORARY DANCE

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Sat. 26 July - 7:30pm Call 6285 6290 or visit www.theq.net.au

31 July until 10 Aug 2014 Bookings: 02 6285 6290 www.theq.net.au

02 6275 2700 | CANBERRATHEATRECENTRE.COM.AU CityNews July 24-30, 2014 19

arts & entertainment

cinema / Dougal Macdonald

Choristers promise three Aussie carols THE Choir of King’s College, Cambridge will be in town on July 31 with Musica Viva. The famous choristers entertain millions every Christmas Eve on BBC TV. Highlights will be three Christmas carols by Aussie composers, Peter Sculthorpe’s “The Birthday of thy King”, Brett Dean’s “Now Comes the Dawn” and Carl Vine’s “Ring Out, Wild Bells”. Bookings to 1800 688482 or musicaviva.com.au CANBERRA’S theatrical community is saddened by the death of veteran director Colin Anderson, who staged more than 10 shows with Canberra Repertory and six musicals in the Canberra Theatre for Canberra Philharmonic, not least his ground-breaking 1994 production of “Les Miserables”.

Gulpilil goes up ‘Country’

Helen Musa arts in the city

“Charlie’s Country” (M)

canberratheatrecentre.com.au THE 2014 Mindscapes Festival is planning a project called “Move – Speak – Act”, an acting course for people who have experienced mental health issues and people who have cared for them. There’ll be a public performance on October 18. Don’t worry if you have never acted before, director Robin Davidson says. Registrations to 6173 3320 or ann.mcmahon@belconnenartscentre.com.au

AARNE Neeme is back at Canberra Rep for the eleventh time to direct Tom Stoppard’s “Arcadia”. The play, a favourite with the company, totters between past and present and even ventures into a rare theatrical subject, mathematics. At Theatre 3, August 1-16, bookings to 6257 1950 or canberrarep. org.au

THE democratic Playing Field Studio in Kingsley Street, Acton, is running workshops as part of its Arts Exchange program. Nat Clark will teach how to make a “zine” (small magazine),10am-12.30pm, on August 2 and September 6, and Canberra textile designer Julie Ryder will teach how to use block-printing on paper. The cost is $2 per workshop and open to everyone. Registrations to playingfieldstudio@gmail.com

IRREPRESSIBLE contemporary folk singer Fred Smith is at Canberra Theatre’s Courtyard Studio until July 27 with a revamped version of his “Dust of Uruzgan” show, complemented by projected photographs from Afghanistan.

Smith wrote the songs while working for DFAT and playing concerts on the multinational base in Tarin Kowt. Bookings to 6275 2700 or

CASULA Powerhouse Arts Centre, near Liverpool, has an exhibition running until September 7 that it’s describing as “a cross-cultural feast for the senses”. It features paintings, sculptures and installations by Canberra’s Vivienne Binns and Adelaide’s Hossein Valamanesh exploring Australian and Iranian-Asian cultures.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

T H E A R T S O F C H R I S T M A S I N J U LY

art, movement, magic and music

Canberra trumpeter Ben Marston has been nominated as one of 16 2014 Freedman Jazz Candidates, the winner announced at Sydney Opera House on August 20.

While “Charlie’s Country” will help improve your understanding, its entertainment values also deliver very THE back story to this, the third agreeable cinematic satisfactions. collaboration between director Rolf de Heer and Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil. At Palace Electric and Capitol 6 It begins with Gulpilil in Darwin “Words and Pictures” (M) jail and ends at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival when Gulpilil, out bush at the time, won the Best Actor award in the BRAVO, Fred Schepisi, for turning Gerald festival’s Un Certain Regard section for de Pego’s insightful screenplay into a his portrayal of Charlie, an Aboriginal film deserving better praise than other elder during the NT intervention media have given it. forced to comply with white fella “Words and Pictures” is more intrusions. than merely a college rom-com.

De Heer’s films are the quiet Emotional discomfort driven by divorce achievers of the Australian film industry, and alcohol, coupled with intellectual telling us something that de Heer wants hubris, constrain the life-satisfactions us to understand better than we did of English teacher Jack (Clive Owen). when we entered the cinema.

Intense pain caused by rheumatoid Early in his acting career, Gulpilil arthritis limits art teacher Dina (Juliette encountered substance abuse. The Binoche) in movement, work and life monetary rewards from acting made enjoyment. The screenplay erects an him a target for sponging Aborigines argument between them. wherever he went. In Darwin jail, de The plot weaves a credible Heer asked him what he wanted to do dramatic fabric involving teachers, after he was released. “I want to make school management and students, more films.” treating Jack’s and Dina’s debilitations The result is “Charlie’s Country”. without conferring any inalienable right Gulpilil told de Heer things about his to a happy outcome. life that de Heer wove into a draft While simmering on the back burner screenplay, a work to satisfy the most throughout the film, its emotions don’t jaded palate, funny, poignant, angry, an boil over. Its closing implication of anti-paean to the Aboriginal condition optimism is admirably restrained. in modern Australia, telling it like it At Capitol 6 and Palace Electric must have been, without self-pity or DOUGAL MACDONALD also reviews overt pleas for a silver bullet to make “Reaching got the Moon”, (M) *** things better, its bottom line saying: and a half, at citynews.com.au “You white fellas don’t understand”.

Bangarra’s seamless masterwork BANGARRA Dance Theatre is like no other dance company performing in Australia today.

It dances to the beat of its own drum, guided by the clear-eyed vision of artistic director, Stephen Page, who is not only one of the country’s most respected and innovative choreographers, but also able to clearly and ingenuously

dance

“Patyegarang” Bangarra Dance Theatre, at Canberra Theatre, season closed.

Reviewed by Bill Stephens articulate his vision, as demonstrated in the standing-room only first-night, pre-show forum.

For his newest work, to celebrate Bangarra’s 25th anniversary and

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presented in Canberra directly after its inaugural six-week Sydney season, Page has incorporated all the elements that make Bangarra unique – skilled dancers with a distinctive movement vocabulary, fluid, idiosyncratic choreography, superb design, original music and excellent production values.

Determinedly abstract in its telling of the relationship between an Eora woman and an officer in the First Fleet, and performed to a stunning soundscape by David Page which includes snippets of the Darug language, “Patyegarang” is both visually and aurally arresting.

Within an evocative textural landscape created by Jacob Nash and lighting designer, Nick Schlieper, and echoed in Jennifer Irwin’s gorgeous sculptural costumes, the work moves fluidly and seamlessly through a series of mesmerisingly beautiful episodes.

Jasmin Sheppard is luminous as Patyegarang, and Thomas Greenfield, the only non-indigenous member of the cast, impresses as William Dawes. Both Waangenga Blanco (Ngalgear) and Elma Kris (Burulalalalung) are stand-outs for their strong presence in what is essentially an ensemble masterwork.

arts & entertainment / dining

review Crazy Kit Kat Klubbers

The CBD Dumpling House kitchen team busily making dumplings.

Photos by Gary Schafer

Found: dumplings to enjoy They were so quick, which is not surprising given that the Chinese are masters in the art, and each round or crescent-shaped dumpling was a parcel of perfection.

I FOUND it difficult to get inside the CBD Dumpling House. Not because staff weren’t welcoming or because it was swamped with customers.

It was because I stood mesmerised outside watching, through an expansive glass window, a large kitchen team busily making dumplings.

They were so quick, which is not surprising given that the Chinese are masters in the art, and each round or crescent-shaped dumpling was a parcel of perfection.

Located at Scott’s Crossing in the Canberra Centre, the CBD Dumpling House is a treasure of a place to enjoy dumplings… and enjoy we did.

There is no set rule on how to make dumpling fillings. The possibilities

are endless and can include vegetables, meat or seafood, with regional parts of China celebrated in the mixtures. Whatever the fillings, wrapping skill is needed to make the dumplings look attractive. We do, after all, feast first with our eyes.

The menu is extensive but not expensive. The dumpling section showcases many types you’d expect – freshly made pork buns, shallot cakes, boiled dumplings, pan-fried dumplings and more.

We were in for a light lunch and so shared a selection of boiled pork, chicken and vegetable dumplings ($11.80 for 14 pieces). The mixtures weren’t spicy, but we perked matters up by happily dunking the little darlings in salty soy sauce and chopped, fresh chilli.

Next up were Shanghai pork dumplings created with a secret concoction of healthy, spicy ingredients ($9.80 for six pieces). Chefs are highly protective of their Shanghai dumpling recipes, each one wanting to offer up a special experience for

CBD Dumpling House… “The design is contemporary and I love the bright, airy feeling,” says Wendy Johnson. diners. These did not disappoint.

On my next trip I’m going to dig into pan-fried dumplings, including the tomato and egg and the prawn and pumpkin.

Do not fear if dumplings are not your thing. The CBD Dumpling House has a wide range of beef, chicken, pork, duck and lamb dishes. The seafood section, a highlight of the menu, includes scallops with XO sauce (another guarded chef secret, no doubt – $21.80), Singapore crispy fish fillet ($14.80), special red curry prawns

($19.80) and a crispy sweet and sour fish dish ($14.80).

Hot pots (15 types) are a specialty (ranging from $13.80 to $23.80) as are rice dishes and noodles, noodles, noodles.

The restaurant is a large space with ceiling-to-floor windows, wonderful timber finishes and beautiful ceiling lamps. The design is contemporary and I love the bright, airy feeling. Staff are friendly, but service levels varied on our visit – sometimes too quick off the mark and sometimes too slow. We weren’t all that fussed.

The dumplings kept us mesmerised.

Shop FG, 13C Canberra Centre, open seven days for lunch and dinner.

BYO, $6 a bottle.

KANDER and Ebb’s searing view of the rise of Nazism as seen through the prism of the lives of the habitués of a seedy Berlin cabaret venue loses none of its unsettling power in this brilliant new production by the Canberra Philharmonic Society.

Confidently and imaginatively guided by director Jim McMullen, who also conducts the excellent orchestra and co-designed the impressive set, the well-focused scenes flow seamlessly between the stage of the Kit Kat Klub and the bedrooms of Frauline Schneider’s run-down guest house to tell two concurrent stories of love under oppression.

Kelly Roberts, all steely fragility and wilfulness as the young English singer, Sally Bowles, is hopelessly entangled in the decadence of the Kit Kat Klub. She captivates the sexuallyambivalent young American writer, Cliff Bradshaw, charmingly portrayed

by Mat Chardon O’Dea. Ros Engledow and Ian Croker as

musical theatre

“Cabaret” The Canberra Philharmonic Society Erindale Theatre until July 26.

Reviewed by Bill Stephens the guest-house proprietor, Frauline Schneider and her Jewish suitor, Herr Schultz, help anchor the show with strong, well-judged performances that provide touches of warmth in an otherwise unforgiving milieu.

Angel Dolejsi is mesmerising as the edgy, reptilian MC, commenting on events, singing and dancing up a storm with the brilliantly choreographed and costumed Kit Kat girls. Dave Smith (Ernst Ludwig), Kitty McGarry (Frauline Kost) and Ben Trabinger (Max) contribute characterisations that are strongly supported by an excellent ensemble cast, superb orchestra and costume design for this outstanding Philo production.

THE CHAIRMAN & YIP CHAIRMAN’S LIGHT LUNCH $37.5 per person $45 per person with a glass of wine LIGHT FRIED CALAMARI SALAD TOSSED WITH SPICY SALT AND CHILLI FRIED FISHCAKES WITH FIVE SPICED TOMATO MAYONNAISE STEAMED CHICKEN WONTONS WITH CHILLI INFUSED OIL CHAR GRILLED MUSHROOMS WITH ASIAN HERBS AND CASHEW PESTO SPICED EYE-FILLET SKEWERS WITH LEMONGRASS, GALANGAL AND CITRUS DRESSING *min of 2 to max of 20, available lunch only from 12pm to 2pm 108 Bunda Street, Canberra | p 02 6248 7109 Bookings online: chairmangroup.com.au

La Scala Italian Restaurant Celebrating 25 years of excellence and welcomed as an accredited member restaurant to The Academy of Italian Cuisine for accurately displaying Italian culinary traditions and innovations.

Centre Cinema Building, Garema Place, Canberra City 6248 8338 www.lascala.net.au

Shogun Restaurant offers superb Japanese cuisine. Combing the Japanese classic favourite of SUKIYAKI, SHABU-SHABU, SUSHI, SASHIMI, TEMPURA ETC, and TEPPANYAKI.

Phone: 6248 8888 1st Floor, Garema Centre, 70 Bunda Street, Canberra City www.shogunrestaurant.com.au CityNews July 24-30, 2014 21

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Things looked promising with research examining other varieties of REB0065.indd 1 10/06/2014 1:08 pmtrees used in our urban forest. Unfortunately, due to budgetary restraints this committee was abandoned, although some of the work has continued in a limited capacity.

I read of a recent study by ANU researchers who suggested that n plants and present tree management practices Quality Canberra grow to your door. could wipe out all of Canberra’s er liv odies de ed

It was suggested a reasonable figure for maintaining our 500,000 trees to be $12m annually...

In recent years I understand the figure has been about $4m or less.

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This may seem a long time, but take into consideration that it takes many years for a tree to reach maturity.

Similar comments were made by Prince Charles regarding the same subject in Britain: “The British countryside and its trees is the unacknowledged backbone of our environment and national identity. It is as precious as any of our great cathedrals and we erode it at our peril”.

The same could be said in relation to Canberra. Our early directors of Parks and Gardens, such as Weston, Hobday and Pryor, recognised this and the planting of trees was one of the first priorities of the establishment of this city.

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killing ash trees at a similar rate.

However, we are not providing sufficient resources to sustain Canberra’s urban forest. Oh, you might say look at our arboretum, where ratepayers have contributed more than $70m so far. But this does nothing for the urban forest in our streets and urban parks with ever decreasing house block sizes and nature strips.

This situation is leaving literally no space for trees of any meaningful size to provide summer shade, biodiversity for birds and other wildlife, let alone the natural carbon offsets.

Certainly Minister Corbell, who sat on that committee, would be aware of the findings of the 2000 inquiry, and Shane Rattenbury as the Greens would be aware of our treed environment.

The ACT Government must as a matter of urgency provide sufficient funds, even in their Budget-stressed state, to protect Canberra’s acknowledged most valuable asset.

Just planting a couple of thousand trees each year with formative pruning and maintenance running years behind will,

as the ANU report suggests, come back to haunt us and future generations.

Perhaps as Sunday, July 27, is National Tree Day, it is a good day to change the current situation and announce a reversal in the decline of the care of our trees.

Jottings…

• Go plant a tree this Sunday. Look at cedricbryant.com, click on Cedfacts and scroll down to “small trees for small gardens”.

• Look around your suburb and see which trees do well in your area.

• Prune dead, diseased or damaged branches on trees in your garden.

• Ensure tree branches are not growing into power lines.

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General knowledge crossword No. 462

your week in the stars – July 28-August 3, 2014

ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20) If someone else is managing your money, then make sure you have your finger on the pulse and know exactly what’s going on. Your self-confidence takes a temporary tumble on the weekend, when someone jumps to conclusions and criticises you unfairly. Avoid responding with sharp words or sarcastic comments. Strive to shrug things off with an abundance of Aries aplomb.

TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20) Communicating with others is complicated, as you dig beneath the surface and get to the bottom of old emotional issues. But, if you are jealous or possessive, then you’ll find yourself deep in disagreement with a loved one.

Friday is a fabulous day to cement a relationship with a proposal or gesture of commitment, but there may be a hidden catch that you haven’t anticipated.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) Twins are curious, quicksilver creatures. If you want to achieve your goals this week and impress others then flash-in-the-pan plans are out and patient progress is in. You’re especially nosey on the weekend as you uncover a secret, pass on gossip or study up a storm. But, with Mercury squaring Mars, be careful that your motor mouth doesn’t get you into trouble!

CANCER (June 22 – July 22) Are you trying to get closer to a child or teenager but they keep pushing you away? Patience and persistence are the keys to improving the relationship.

Avoid the tantalising temptation to gossip on the weekend. If you pass on information that was given to you in confidence, you’ll end up feeling foolish and friendless. Zip your lip Crabs and find something constructive to do!

LEO (July 23 – Aug 22) Leos are proud people who love to pontificate but, this week, heaps of hubris will land you in heaps of hot water. If you are too full of yourself, others will cut you down to size. Try a little humble humility instead! Mercury moves into your sign on Friday (until August 16) which favours lively conversation - but once again avoid the temptation to monopolise social situations.

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22) Mercury shifts into your solitude zone (from August 1-16) so it’s time to recharge your run-down batteries and reflect on the future. Words of wisdom for the week come from singer/songwriter Kate Bush (born on July 30): “There’s an awful lot you can learn about yourself when you’re alone.” On Sunday, avoid using words as weapons – or making promises that you later regret.

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23) Your delicate diplomatic skills are needed early in the week, when you step in and play the peace-maker – but don’t get caught in the cross-fire! The Moon moves through your sign (from Friday through to Sunday) which highlights your Libran elegance and timeless style. So your motto for the moment is from birthday great Yves St Laurent: “Fashions fade, style is eternal.”

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Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd

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Chartered Accountant

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23 24 25 Solution next week

Across

Down

4 Which grey and pink cockatoos are found in Australian open areas?

7 What is a strainer for draining off liquids, in cookery?

8 To burst suddenly, is to do what?

9 What are young female actors often called?

11 Name a person who denies the existence of God. 13 Which European country is bordered by Wales and Scotland?

15 That which is not straight or direct, is termed as what?

17 What is a gift for good luck?

20 Which peoples speak Flemish?

23 Which structure is also called a summerhouse?

24 What are the elementary particles of atoms?

25 Name the largest of the Channel Islands.

1 What is an animal or plant from which a parasite obtains nutrition?

2 Name the thinner one of an earlier comic duo.

3 To be unemployed, or doing nothing, is to be what?

4 What is an alternative term for ground corn?

5 What is a pantry also known as?

6 Which word applies to expectations of things desired?

9 Name the head of a Muslim religious body.

10 What is the aquatic larva of frogs?

12 Which other term relates to dogmas?

14 Name the common European vipers.

16 Name the contractile circular diaphragms. forming the coloured portions of the eyes.

18 What is a less familiar term for a proverb?

19 Which hard, heavy, durable wood is prized when black?

21 What is good fortune also known as?

22 How many players comprise a baseball team?

Sudoku medium No. 131

SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21) Early in the week, avoid using power games and emotional manipulation to get what you want. Cool compromise is the smart way to go. With the Sun, Jupiter and Mercury all charging through your career zone, all eyes are on you at work. So make sure you are putting on a good show Scorpio! If you’re looking for employment, be adventurous and cast your net wide.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21) Curiosity and optimism are high but don’t skim the surface Sagittarius. There’s more going on than you realise so take the time to investigate properly. Keep your ego in check on the weekend. If you impulsively jump on your high horse, you’ll arouse the opposition of others. Impetuous ideas and spontaneous shenanigans could backfire badly, so take the time to think things through.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Venus and Saturn rev up your relationship zone, which usually signals a settled time of heightened romance. But Uranus throws a curved ball into the mix, and a union heads off in an unexpected direction. And it will be hard to balance your desire for commitment with the other person’s need for independence. Wednesday is wonderful for nurturing your international contacts.

Solution next week

A C N C L A V R E H E A S A A L D E R M E A A N Z I N S E A Z C E X O D A N R S C E N

S E S A N T C E N C T R U S E T S

ABN 57 008 653 683

Sudoku hard No.130

Daily astrology updates at www.twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2014

Crossword No. 461

M C E W E N O E E V O O D O O E G P C E R E A L I A P S F R E E D M E N A L C A T R I C O S C O T S M S S E

6295 2844

9/71 Leichhardt St, Kingston ACT 2604

Solutions from last edition

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20) Pliable Pisceans are perplexing at the best of times! Try to communicate clearly mid-week, otherwise confusion and monumental mix-ups are likely and self-delusion is a danger. The weekend is wonderful for romantic reveries and declarations of undying love - but don’t get too carried away with extravagant promises, vague dreams and pie-in-the-sky schemes.

Last week Lee attended a superannuation seminar at work and heard about a transition to retirement pension (TTR). He called in to see what that meant for him.

“Lee, a TTR is a income stream that you receive once you reach preservation age,” I told him.

“As you were born before July 1, 1960, your preservation age is 55 and you are now eligible to start a TTR, but as you are a member of the PSS superannuation scheme, it doesn’t allow fund members to withdraw a TTR pension.

“However, Lee, it is possible to set up a second fund with PSSap and pay your TTR from this fund.

“The advantage of a TTR is that you can commence the pension, taking up to a maximum of 10 per cent of the balance and a minimum of 4 per cent.

“It is a requirement of the rules that a TTR cannot be rolled back to a lump sum. Until you are 60, the tax paid on your TTR is eligible for a rebate of 15 per cent and will be tax free after age 60.

“So, not only can you draw a concessionally taxed income stream, but you can also salary sacrifice into superannuation up to the maximum allowable amount.

“The net result of maximising this strategy is that you should have more money in superannuation when you retire.”

Lee said that was much clearer, but wanted me to explain the difference between the Centrelink income and assets tests.

“Lee, Centrelink has two eligibility tests for pensions,” I told him.

“When you apply for an age pension, Centrelink applies both the income and the assets tests and uses the one that gives you the least pension. So, if your assets exceed the threshold but you are eligible for an income pension, the pension will be zero.

“You cannot choose which test to apply. Just for information, you can earn between $4160 and $47,985 as a couple and still receive some pension using the income test.

“The assets test for a couple homeowner allows you to have assets between $433,000 and $1,280,500 and still receive some pension.”

And finally, Lee wanted to know how all that related to the Health Care Card.

“If you receive an age pension, you will automatically receive a pensioner concession card. If you do not qualify for the age pension you may still be eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card if your adjusted taxable income combined with that of your spouse is less than $80,000.

“However, there are proposed changes that mean from January 1 next year income streams will be counted to determine eligibility for the Health Care Card. If you have a Health Care Card before that date you will remain eligible for it.”

A happier Lee left my office saying: “Thanks, Gail, I now feel I can usefully begin my retirement planning”.

If you need help with retirement or superannuation contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Rebellious behaviour will get you into trouble. You’re ambitious for success but think twice before you challenge authority figures, arouse the opposition of colleagues or upset loved ones. Diplomacy is not your natural forte, but it’s exactly what’s needed ATM. Contributing to your local community turns into a win for everyone. The more you give, the more you’ll receive in return.

Lee ponders his pension plans

Listen to our tax tips on 2CA and 2CC (Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic No. 229892)

w w w. g a i l f re e m a n . co m . a u Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @gailfreemantax CityNews July 24-30, 2014 23

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